Life Habits of Healthcare Professionals during the Third Wave of COVID-19: A Cross-Sectional Study in a Spanish Hospital

Abstract

(1) Background: To describe sleep quality, eating behaviour and alcohol, tobacco and illicit drug use among healthcare staff in a Spanish public hospital. (2) Methods: Cross-sectional descriptive study examining sleep quality (Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index), eating behaviour (Three Factor Eating Questionnaire (R18)), tobacco and drug use (ESTUDES questionnaire) and alcohol use (Cut down, Annoyed, Guilty, Eye-opener). (3) Results: 178 people, of whom 87.1% (155) were women, with an average age of 41.59 ± 10.9 years. A total of 59.6% of the healthcare workers had sleep problems, to a greater or lesser degree. The average daily consumption was 10.56 ± 6.74 cigarettes. The most commonly used drugs included cannabis, occasionally used by 88.37%, cocaine (4.75%), ecstasy (4.65%) and amphetamines (2.33%). A total of 22.73% of participants had increased their drug use, and 22.73% had increased their consumption during the pandemic, with beer and wine accounting for 87.2% of drinks consumed during this period. (4) Conclusions: In addition to the psychological and emotional impact already demonstrated, the COVID-19 crisis has repercussions on sleep quality, eating behaviour and alcohol, tobacco and drug consumption. Psychological disturbances have repercussions on physical and functional aspects of healthcare workers. It is feasible that these alterations are due to stress, and it is necessary to act through treatment and prevention as well as promote healthy habits.

Stress, Mental Health, Sleep, and Healthy Habits in Spanish Healthcare Professionals Along the Pandemic: A Case-Control, and Follow-Up Study

“…Therefore, it appears that healthy habits could have a positive impact on mental health of HCP even in this overwhelming period of maximum stress such it was suggested by Tovani-Palone et al [ 29 ] in an article about the importance of healthy habits during the COVID-19 pandemic for general populations. These results are interesting, because a Spanish cross-sectional study about life habits of HCP during the third wave of COVID-19 found changes in sleep quality, eating behavior, and unhealthy habits such an increase of alcohol, tobacco, and drug consumption [ 30 ].…”

“…These results are interesting, because a Spanish cross-sectional study about life habits of HCP during the third wave of COVID-19 found changes in sleep quality, eating behavior, and unhealthy habits such an increase of alcohol, tobacco, and drug consumption. 30 Several strengths should be noted. First, the recruitment process, based on on-line questionnaires allowed us to study health personnel from different places of Spain from the beginning of the pandemic.…”

“…The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) is an easy tool to assess stress perception in relation to feelings and thoughts experienced in the last month that includes ten questions with five answer options. 18 The score range is between 0-40 and allows to divide the study population into three groups, based on the degree of stress: low (0-13), moderate (14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26), and severe (27)(28)(29)(30)(31)(32)(33)(34)(35)(36)(37)(38)(39)(40).…”